Page 70
“Baby, you really don’t have a poker face,” he admonishes lovingly, sitting back, watching the rest of the hand play out.
Phoenix crutches over and makes eye contact with Daniel, who jumps up immediately.
“Here, take my seat, please.” He pulls the chair out, as if mine wasn’t already open for her.
“Thanks, Daniel. Such a gentleman.” She smiles up at him, blatantly ignoring my presence.
I have the caveman urge to beat my chest, show off that I am better, or let her know I am the superior choice. His jump shot is weak inside the paint, for Christ’s sake.
Instead, I take a breath and make her and the rest of the ladies some of their favorites I incorporated.
“Ladies, please come and grab something to eat. I whipped together some street corn and rosemary potatoes.” I eye Mack, knowing from Phoenix it was one of her favorites. “Vanessa, I have some cedar plank salmon, a happy accident to your earlier ritual.” She doesn’t look at me as she eyes the dish. “And Becca, Sam told me what a sucker you were for some chimichurri steak skewers. Insisted you have it.”
She looks at Sam with stars in her eyes. “Aww, thank you honey, you shouldn’t have.” She grabs one and takes a bite, cozying back into Sam as she chews.
He looks momentarily surprised at the words, but then mouths “thanks” to me. I give him a head nod in return.
I place a little bit of everything on Phoenix’s plate, but also add a couple of grilled peaches with mascarpone. She prefers to eat her dessert alongside her dinner.
“Here, I have some saved aside if you want more for later too,” I whisper, not wanting her to feel obligated to respond.
Our fingers graze as I move my hand away. Her eyes lift. For one second, she simply looks at me. Before she can speak, Nessa lets out a groan.
“Urgh, this is so freaking good, I hate it,” she gets out between bites.
“I know,” Becca agrees, covering her mouth. “He cooks like an angel, must have taken that talent with him when he was stealing souls before going back to the pit of hell.”
Mack closes her eyes, leaning back in the chair as Jared gently rubs her shoulders.
“Damn him,” Mack mutters before going back for another bite.
The Zentrology night fuses effortlessly with our poker game and I couldn’t be happier about it. Nessa wipes the floor with the lot, claiming their auras gave them away. Mack is demonstrating stretching techniques for the basketball team to limber up before the game, as well as suggesting supplements to help support their recovery.
Becca looks at the small pile of chips in front of Sam and gives an approving nod.
“Alright, we are ahead of our allotted poker quota, so we should head out, while the night is still young.”
Sam all but leaps out of his chair, grabbing Becca with him who releases a giggle.
“I’ll cash out with you later, thanks for hosting, see you at the next one.” He leans over and gives me a fist bump, barely taking his eyes off his wife.
“Sure thing, anytime,” I respond, feeling the jealousy creep in as he heads out with his woman.
The rest of the participants filter out. Jared and Mack offer to take Nessa home as she pockets a few seltzers on her way out. When she catches my eye, there is no guilt as she snags a bag of chips too.
As I walk the final guests out, closing the door behind me, I catch Phoenix still in the backyard. She is attempting to throw away the girls’ plates, balancing too much at once when it tips over on her, and the chimichurri sauce spills down her cream sweater and jeans.
“Fantastic,” she mutters, looking down her front, then eyeing her cast. “I can’t even wash this off properly tonight.”
I look at her for a moment too long, and she looks up and sees me noticing.
“You can use my tub, dear Proprietress.”
19
JACKSON
Phoenix stops dabbing at her sweater, meeting my eyes with a death glare that would stop even the hardest of criminals.
